FOR STOCKHOLM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 20 April 1912, Page 6

FOR STOCKHOLM.

MALCOLM CHAMPION'S PLIGHTLEAVES BY ATHENIC. EXTRAORDINARY TANGLE. The lot of a champion is not always a happy one. That was certainly tho easo of Malcolm Champion, tho Dominion's best swimmer, last night, this being owing to an extraordinary mix-up in the financial arrangements in connection with his proposed part in the Olympic Games to be held in Stockholm in July A week ago, Auckland, which had not nominated him as a representative, sprang into activity, and a lively and successful effort was mado by tho Waiteuiata Club to find the amount necessary for his household expenses whilst away, and tho cost of tho return faro to London. On that they sent Champion to Wellington on Wednesday last, understanding, it being understood, that Christchurch would contribute .£SO. to his. expenses, which (in addition to another .£SO to bo raised in Auckland) would see tho swimmer through. Wellington was left out of all calculations as far as Champion was concerned owing to his non-nomination, and the fact that this centre had'practically exhausted itself in supplying funds for 'the arncarance at Stockholm of Wilding, the tennis player, and Hill, tho Auckland runner. So far so good. But, even tlon tho Olympic Council had no funds in hand for Champion, and not having received his nomination at all until last Monday evening, had.to base any action which it might have felt disposed to take on the Auckland and Christchurch guarantees.

On Champion's arrival here last Wednesday he explained tho position to members of the council, and the secretary (Mr. Guise) at oneo telegraphed to Mr. Goldbury (chairman of tho Christchurch' Centre) as to whether tho money would bo forthcoming, and though repeated telegrams were sent on lhursday and yesterday, no reply was received until last evening, when Champion received the following wire from Mr. George Harris, of Christchurch, president of the New Zealand Swimming Association:-"I have guaranteed .£SO; wish you every success.

A further wire sent at tho same time (..5a p.m.) was received from Mr. Goldsbury as follows:—"Council wishes you very successful joumev." , This cleared up the" Christchurch end of tho guarantee, but that .£SO was not sufficient to pay all Champion's expenses, and he and members of the Olympic Council when, they met at 11 p.ni. expressed the opinion, while committing tho council to nothing, that the Auckland guarantee, made to Champion by Mr. Mulvihill (secretary of-the Auckland Centre), should be quite all right. Prior however, to receiving the Christchurch telegrams, Champion, feeling rather tired of the whole business, had telegraphed to Mr. Mulvihill stating that ho would return to Auckland on Sunday morning next, basing that intended action on the silence of tho Christchurch people interested, and ho received a reply from Mr. Mulvihill advising him to go on and compete at tho English championships only as representative of the Waitemata Swimming Club, and that .£SO would be sent to London for him.

On discussing the tangled position, Mr. Marryat (of the Olympic Council) pointed out that by missing the Athenic ho would bo sacrificing half the passago money (,£33) paid by tho Waitemata Club on tho ticket which he had taken out. Finally Mr. Marryat said that if Champion would go Home on the assurance of tho Auckland guarantee being made good, he would see that, on the receipt of that money, Champion should be nominated for the Olympic Games (which had not so far been done). If that money wero not forthcoming ho eould'simply return from London ns scon as ho liked after reaching there. On this, and in order that no part of the passage money paid by his club shoul(J be sacrificed, Champion agreed to go, but stated that if tho Auckland guarantee was.not forthcoming he would not compete anywhere, as tho Christchurch guarantee was for Stockholm. Ou making this decision Mr. Guise (on behalf of the Olympic Council) gave Champion .£lO for immediate expenses, and at midnight ho boarded the Athenic, which sails for London at daylight this morning.

Speaking to a Dominion,representative, Champion said that he was in fine form and never felt better, and reallv liked his chances in the fresh water at "Stockholm even against Hardwick and Longworth, the Australian distance swimmers. If nominated ho will compete in tho 4-1-0 yards, 800 yards, and mile swimming events, in which he would be associated as representatives of Australia with Healy, Longworth, and Hardwick. In the sprint events, Australia would be represented by Boardman and Wickham, of Sydney. ' Champion, who weighs 13st. 41b., looks in the pink of condition, and, excepting for tho worry occasioned by the mix-up in his financial arrangements at the eleventh hour, is in excellent spirits. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. FROM THE AUCKLAND END. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, April 19. An unfortunate hitch has occurred in the arrangements {lo havo llio Dominion represented in tho swimming section of the fifth Olympiad at Stockholm by Champion, of Auckland. When it was first suggested that Champion should be sent to Stockholm, what appeared to bo an insurmountable Obstacle arose in the financing of tho tour. The stumbling block had been the matter of providing for the support of Champion's family during his absence. Last week the question was solved by the members of tho committee of tho Waitemata Swimming Club individually guaranteeing a very large proportion of tho amount required. Champion, therefore, left for Wellington on Tuesday evening. It was not anticipated that any trouble would be caused by the New Zealand Olympic Council, although, owing to tho haste in which- arrangements had to bo completed, that body could not be consulted before Champion left Auckland. • Since Champion left, however, the Now Zealand Olympic Council has stepped in with a statement that it does not recognise Mrs. Champion in the matter, and also with tho demand that tli'o .£IOO (apart from Champion's passage money, already paid} shall be handed over to it. This means that the council Teally demands .£IGS before nominating Champion for tho Olympiad. While tho Waitemata Club's committee does not object to paying reasonable managerial expenses, it fails to see tho necessity fyr the provision of as much as ,£OS abovo its estimate. .

The Olympic Council, it is said, even went so far as to threaten to send Champion back tti Auckland unless arrangements wero mado to solid the money which it demands through it, but, so far ns is known, Champibn had already left Wellington for London, Champion will compete for the English swimming championships, for which ho is being nominated by the New Zealand Swimming Association, and will also visit Stockholm. Whether he is nominated for tho Olympiad or not he will be available to represent Now Zealand in tho Olympic Games, and it remains to be seen what the New Zealand Olympic Council will do.